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At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled "quiet," it is to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society--from van Gogh’s sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer.

Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and how much we lose in doing so. Taking the reader on a journey from Dale Carnegie’s birthplace to Harvard Business School, from a Tony Robbins seminar to an evangelical megachurch, Susan Cain charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal in the twentieth century and explores its far-reaching effects. She talks to Asian-American students who feel alienated from the brash, backslapping atmosphere of American schools. She questions the dominant values of American business culture, where forced collaboration can stand in the way of innovation, and where the leadership potential of introverts is often overlooked. And she draws on cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to reveal the surprising differences between extroverts and introverts.

Perhaps most inspiring, she introduces us to successful introverts--from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Finally, she offers invaluable advice on everything from how to better negotiate differences in introvert-extrovert relationships to how to empower an introverted child to when it makes sense to be a "pretend extrovert."

This extraordinary book has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how introverts see themselves.

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Review

People Top 10 Book of 2012O, The Oprah Magazine 10 Favorite Books of 2012Christian Science Monitor Best Books of 20122012 Goodreads Choice Award, Best NonfictionFast Company #1 Business Book of 2012Inc Magazine Best Books for Entrepreneurs in 2012Library Journal Best Books of 2012Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2012

"An important book that should embolden anyone who's ever been told, 'Speak up!'"--People

"Cain offers a wealth of useful advice for teachers and parents of introverts…Quiet should interest anyone who cares about how people think, work, and get along, or wonders why the guy in the next cubicle acts that way. It should be required reading for introverts (or their parents) who could use a boost to their self-esteem."--Fortune.com

"Rich, intelligent...enlightening."--Wall Street Journal

"An intriguing and potentially life-altering examination of the human psyche that is sure to benefit both introverts and extroverts alike."--Kirkus, Starred Review

"Cain gives excellent portraits of a number of introverts and shatters misconceptions. Cain consistently holds the reader’s interest by presenting individual profiles, looking at places dominated by extroverts (Harvard Business School) and introverts (a West Coast retreat center), and reporting on the latest studies. Her diligence, research, and passion for this important topic has richly paid off."--Publishers Weekly

"This book is a pleasure to read and will make introverts and extroverts alike think twice about the best ways to be themselves and interact with differing personality types."--Library Journal

"An intelligent and often surprising look at what makes us who we are."--Booklist

"In this well-written, unusually thoughtful book, Cain encourages solitude seekers to see themselves anew: not as wallflowers but as powerful forces to be reckoned with."--Whole Living

"Those who value a quiet, reflective life will feel a burden lifting from their shoulders as they read Susan Cain's eloquent and well documented paean to introversion--and will no longer feel guilty or inferior for having made the better choice!"--MIHALY CSIKSZENTMIHALYI, author of Flow and Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management, Claremont Graduate University

"Superbly researched, deeply insightful, and a fascinating read, Quiet is an indispensable resource for anyone who wants to understand the gifts of the introverted half of the population."--GRETCHEN RUBIN, author of The Happiness Project

"Quiet is a book of liberation from old ideas about the value of introverts. Cain’s intelligence, respect for research, and vibrant prose put Quiet in an elite class with the best books from Malcolm Gladwell, Daniel Pink, and other masters of psychological non-fiction."--TERESA AMABILE, Professor, Harvard Business School, and coauthor, The Progress Principle

"As an introvert often called upon to behave like an extrovert, I found the information in this book revealing and helpful. Drawing on neuroscientific research and many case reports, Susan Cain explains the advantages and potentials of introversion and of being quiet in a noisy world."--ANDREW WEIL, author of Healthy Aging and Spontaneous Happiness

"Susan Cain has done a superb job of sifting through decades of complex research on introversion, extroversion, and sensitivity--this book will be a boon for the many highly sensitive people who are also introverts."--ELAINE ARON, author of The Highly Sensitive Person

"Quiet legitimizes and even celebrates the ‘niche’ that represents half the people in the world."--GUY KAWASAKI, author of Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions

"Susan Cain is the definer of a new and valuable paradigm. In this moving and original argument, she makes the case that we are losing immense reserves of talent and vision because of our culture's overvaluation of extroversion. A startling, important, and readable page-turner that will make quiet people see themselves in a whole new light." --NAOMI WOLF, author of The Beauty Myth

"Superb…A compelling reflection on how the Extrovert Ideal shapes our lives and why this is deeply unsettling. Based on meticulous research, it will open up a new and different conversation on how the personal is political and how we need to empower the legions of people who are disposed to be quiet, reflective, and sensitive."--BRIAN R. LITTLE, PH.D., Distinguished Scholar, Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, Cambridge University

"Quiet elevates the conversation about introverts in our outwardly-oriented society to new heights. I think that many introverts will discover that, even though they didn't know it, they have been waiting for this book all their lives."--ADAM S. MCHUGH, author of Introverts in the Church

"Gentle is powerful... Solitude is socially productive... These important counter-intuitive ideas are among the many reasons to take Quiet to a quiet corner and absorb its brilliant, thought-provoking message." --ROSABETH MOSS KANTER, Harvard Business School professor, author of Confidence and SuperCorp"Memo to all you glad-handing, back-slapping, brainstorming masters of the universe out there: Stop networking and talking for a minute and read this book. In Quiet, Susan Cain does an eloquent and powerful job of extolling the virtues of the listeners and the thinkers--the reflective introverts of the world who appreciate that hard problems demand careful thought and who understand that it's a good idea to know what you want to say before you open your mouth."--BARRY SCHWARTZ, author of Practical Wisdom and The Paradox of Choice

“A smart, lively book about the value of silence and solitude that makes you want to shout from the rooftops. Quiet is an engaging and insightful look into the hearts and minds of those who change the world instead of tweeting about it.”--DANIEL GILBERT, professor of psychology, Harvard University, author of Stumbling on Happiness

About the Author

SUSAN CAIN is the co-founder of Quiet Revolution and the author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in A World That Can’t Stop Talking, which has been translated into 40 languages, has been on the New York Times bestseller list for more than five years, and was named the #1 best book of the year by Fast Company magazine, which also named Cain one of its Most Creative People in Business. Cain is also the author of the bestseller Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts, and the co-founder of the Quiet Schools Network and the Quiet Leadership Institute. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. Her record-smashing TED talk has been viewed more than 14 million times and was named by Bill Gates one of his all-time favorite talks. Cain has also spoken at Microsoft, Google, the U.S. Treasury, the S.E.C., Harvard, Yale, West Point and the US Naval Academy. She received Harvard Law School’s Celebration Award for Thought Leadership, the Toastmasters International Golden Gavel Award for Communication and Leadership, and was named one of the world’s top 50 Leadership and Management Experts by Inc. Magazine. She is an honors graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School. She lives in the Hudson River Valley with her husband and two sons. Visit Cain and the Quiet Revolution at www.quietrev.com.

Top customer reviews

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This was a book club read. Interesting book. Most of us read it in chunks as it is quite information dense. Most of us felt it was too long or that the information presented from multiple angles and scenarios felt repetitive, perhaps like a court lawyer building a case? For those introverts that stuck in there it was satisfying. The extroverts of course were having coffee.

This book had some really valuable information for people like myself, who get along with others, but consider themselves anti-social. There's a huge difference between being anti-social and being an introvert, and I didn't know this before. It is well written, with amazing facts about the impact on the world made by the "less-insistent" people. It made me feel more powerful and confident with my inability to demand that people listen to me.

If you are a parent with a child who would rather take a back seat, it is important that you read this book, as they can be just as successful, if not more so, as the child barking orders from the front of the classroom.

This book literally changed how I view the world and myself. I can't express the relief I felt ~ the validation and freedom I experienced as I related to situations eerily similar in my own life. For so, so long I've felt this overwhleming sense of being lost or of sorrow ~ of always looking for something but not knowing what I was looking for. As I closed the book I had an amazing epiphany ~ all these years I've been looking for ME. I've spent over 50 years trying to be somebody else. So many things make sense to me now; actions and reactions. I've gone on to buy 4 more copies for others and have been recommending it to anyone who will listen. Thank you so much Susan. You have given me a treasured gift ~ you've given me....me!

This is a great book if you are an introvert or would like to know more about the introverted temperament. I found it to be well rounded in that it described many of the good qualities introverts tend to have, but did not bash extroverts. I thought it was a very fair assessment and gave me many insights into my own tendencies.

This is one of the most important works of non-fiction published this in the last century. At times I almost wept when I came to understand that it's ok to be an introvert. I finally understand and accept myself. There is not something wrong with me. I wish i had read this twenty years ago. it would have saved me a lot of heartache and helped me make better choices.

I wish I could force every educator to read this. Not everything needs to be group work!

As an introvert I thought this would be an interesting read, and it was. The book is filled with thoughtful stories and research on how introverts differ from extroverts and how they perceieve, and are perceived, differently.

I don't regret reading it, but in a couple years I doubt I will remember anything from the book as it is only interesting and not life changing. I think that if you are insecure about your introvertness or need some validation that being introvert is perfectly normal this book could be more impactful, but those who accept who they are, should have figured out the differences long ago.

This book should be required reading for all high school kids because it nicely summarizes and expands on the core difference in personalities, namely introverts versus extroverts. If everyone read this book, there'd be more peace and understanding, and goodwill between man (and woman). While introverts will naturally look this book, extroverts would do well to buy to help understand themselves and why extroversion-worship isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

I absolutely loved this book! It was well-researched and fascinating to learn more about introversion. I was sad to watch the percent completed in my Kindle go by so fast. The author could have written a book on this subject ten times the length and then maybe I'd feel complete! I wish I had read this book earlier in life. I very much appreciated the perspective that introverts just have a different perspective and way of processing the world.